ETA Candidate Endorsement Questionnaire

By Jim Zito

Evergreen Teacher's Association Q&A for Candidates. A full disclosure of my position on issues important to EEDS teachers and students.

James Frank Zito + BS Computer Science, SUNY Stony Brook., MBA, University of Phoenix. Evergreen/East Side resident since Jan 1984. I have provided 8 years of service to the city of San Jose as a planning commissioner, with 2 yrs as Chair and Vice Chair. I have served 2 years as president of the D8CRT, and am currently the President of the Evergreen Valley Educational Foundation. I have spent the better part of 12 years dealing with and participating on several task forces addressing land use issues throughout Evergreen and the East Side. I sat on two EESD administration task forces, addressing boundary and site assessment issues. I currently sit on the Mayor's Envision San Jose 2040 General Plan Update task force. I have 3 children; a daughter in College, another daughter at EVHS and my son going into 2nd grade at Carolyn Clark Elementary.

2. Why are you a candidate for the school board? Why do you think the Evergreen Teachers Association should consider you for an endorsement?

I would like the honor of representing EESD parents, teachers and other district employees so that I might have the opportunity to lend my experiences and skills gained from years as Planning Commissioner, President of the EVEF educational foundation and community leader to help meet the challenges currently confronting our EESD. I would like the consideration of the ETA because I believe I bring a unique and balanced perspective to problem solving. One that tends to be solution oriented and free of external influences or biases. I believe my years of service to the city of San Jose and our community speak to my ability and principles of being fair and interested to hear all sides of any issue, to be flexible and innovative in my deliberations and problem solving.

3. What do you believe to be the most pressing problems facing this district? What is your plan to address these problems?

Currently the budget is certainly number one, but close behind, and a more lingering challenge is Parent/Teacher outreach and participation. Apply my fiscally conservative practices to review and recommend on the budget. possibly recommending methods of outreach and communication I have learned and practiced as Planning Commissioner & District 8 Community Round Table President.

4. School districts in California, including this district, provide public education to the most diverse student population in the nation. Do you believe this district has made adequate provision for the education of our language minority students and our students with special needs? Please explain.

From what I have come to understand, EESD has always considered the needs of the ESL and otherwise challenged students as a top priority in order to ensure equal access to learning for all of its district's students. With that said, there is always more that can be done, albeit the current economic challenges makes this a significant challenge.

5. Much has been said about the importance of making decisions at the school site, which include input from both parents and teachers. Do you support more site-based decision making rather than central office controlled decisions? If so, what will you do to make this a reality?

Yes, I fully support more input and flexibility for school site decisions. That said, the EESD has the ultimate responsibility to ensure the balanced and equitable administration of all 18 schools under its jurisdiction. Sunshine, transparency and adequate input are necessary for and from all parents, faculty and service providers.

6. One of the top priorities of parents and teachers is to assure the protection of children's health and safety. What is your position on school safety, and what, if any, additional actions do you believe this district should take to assure student safety?

Parents entrust the health and safety of their children to the teachers and administration of their children's schools. I believe this is a primary outcome, even before the education of their children. It is the responsibility of the EESD to ensure they are doing all they can to meet this mandate at all schools. While I believe the District takes this responsibility seriously, at this time I do not know all that the EESD does to meet their responsibility, so I am not in a position to recommend "additional actions".

7. What is your position on vouchers or the creation of charter schools?

All our children's educational needs may not be equally served using a single formula or model. A forward looking and innovative school district must be open to possible solutions which meet the needs of their children in possibly unconventional ways. However, any solution must ensure an equitable and equally accessible high quality result for all students. There can be no "Steal from Peter to pay Paul" unless burdens are equally shared, and the outcome serves all children equally.

8. What would you do as a board member to strengthen parental involvement in our schools?

Outreach and communication are key. Partnering with external parent groups and PTSAs to gain greater exposure and participation from parents and teachers at Board meetings would be one suggestion. Others include reviewing the Board Charter and By-laws to see where they can be enhanced to encourage more open communication. Ensuring an up to date, accurate and intuitive web site is another. Video recording of Board meetings and posting of the streaming content on the web site could be investigated.

9. Do you believe in, and support the right of public school employees to be organized and to bargain collectively?

Yes, it is a fundamental right. I come from a family with deep union roots covering private, municipal and federal workers. But, we should agree that the needs of our children must come first.

10. How will you, as a board member, assure participation of local site employees in the development of programs to assist schools of greatest need?

A role of the Board is to ensure open communication and to encourage participation and outreach to all EESD employees and parents. Special attention should be given to schools with the greatest need, and least ability to actively participate due to circumstances beyond their control. One possibility is to hold board meetings at various school sites from time to time.

11. What will you, as a board member, do to assure that teachers have the support and materials needed to successfully assist students in meeting state standards?

As in the private sector, any successful organization must have the necessary financing and resources to achieve their goals, and in this case, meeting state educational standards. If the District can not completely provide these resources itself, then exploring private/public partnerships and alternate funding options should be considered.

12. How will you encourage the district administration to provide the support and resources necessary for teachers to successfully meet requirements for standards based evaluation?

I would suggest the formation of work sessions and task forces that are chartered to explore options to provide such resources, and encourage meaningful and active participation from the District administration on these committees.

13. Do you believe employees are adequately compensated in this district? Do you support maintaining affordable health benefits for all employees? Explain.

From what I understand, the EESD is one of the most progressive and highest paying districts in the greater San Jose area. I believe that the standards used around the world in holding their educators in high regard should be the model. With that said, given the current budget situation and never being a trained educator, I can not fairly comment on the adequacy of employee compensation. I do believe that affordable health benefits should be a basic part of each employee's compensation, but providing realistic participation and family healthcare coordination is also necessary in order to ensure affordable healthcare to all employees today and in the future.

14. What do you see as the school board members' role and responsibility in the effective administration of the schools?

The Board is the policy making body with specific legal rights and responsibilities. They are ultimately responsibility for the overall health and operation of each and every school in the district. They must work effectively with each stakeholder in the district to execute these roles and responsibilities successfully.

15. EESD carried out a layoff of certificated personnel for the first time in its history in `09-10. During the RIF Hearing process, the district admitted to illegally hiring all teachers as Temporary. What would you do to address and correct this problem so the district is aligned with the law as delineated under Ed Code?

I had heard of this practice and inquired about its current status. My understand is that this practice has been stopped and corrected. I also have been told that a process is now in place that includes hiring oversight by the ETA leadership. I would review these processes and solicit input from all stakeholders as to the effectiveness of these corrections.

16. Would you like to make a closing statement OR do you have any questions for this interview panel?

I ask that the panel and ultimately the ETA leadership consider my past record of community service and current commitment to the School District when making a decision. In any case I ask that the panel consider endorsing those most qualified to provide the necessary leadership to guide the EESD in its responsibility to provide the best education possible to its children; and to consider this guiding principle above all else when making such recommendations.

Thank you for your sincere consideration. I look forward to serving the EESD as a Board member, or in some other capacity.